Improvement in folding tables



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.v

JAMES WALTON, -OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HENRY F. RICH, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,457, dated J nly 13, 1875; application filed December 23,1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WALTON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection lwith the drawings Which accompany and form part of this specitication, is a description of my invention sufficient to ena-ble those skilled in the art to practice it.

My invention consists in a folding-table so constructed that it may be readily set up, so that it will be firm and steady, or folded and put away, occupying but little space.

The top of my table I make of any desired shape, and lengthwise thereof I insert a strip of dierent-colored Wood, graduated with a scale the whole length of the table.4

The particular feature of my invention is, that the same strip of wood which is used for bracing the legs and holding them firmly when set up also serves to hohl. them against the under side of the table When folded. Another feature of my invention is, that I attach the legs to the table-top by means of brackets and dowels, forming hinges, which allow the legs to swing up against the under side of the table-top. The series of brackets, being held in line by the dowels, prevent the table-top, which is usually made very thin, from warpmg.

The accompanying drawing represents a table showing my invention, in Which- Figure l is a section of the table on the line ac w; Fig. 2, a reverse plan, and Fig. 3 an edge view of the table folded up.

In the drawing, A represents the table-top; B, the legs, those on each end being connected by the stretchers G D,nnited with the table'- top .by brackets E F and dowcls G H, as

shown inFigs. 2 and 3. In'the center, or

thereabout, of the under side of the table-top one or more braces or stretchers, J, (preferably using only one,) are placed and fastv ened, in such a manner that when it is desired to use the table they serve, by pressing against the stretchers, to hold the legs firmly in position, while, when the table is folded up, they swing over the stretchers O D, and hold the legs against the under side of the table-top, thus making it compact for shipping or putting away. On the under side of the tabletop I also place the ornamental stretchers K L, hinged to the table-top, which, like the center one, serve to brace the legs when the table is set up, but swing up against the under side ofthe table-top when the table is folded.

I am aware that folding commodes and similar articles have been made with the front and back stretchers or curtains to fold up against the under side of the top, allowing the legs to be folded also. ThatI do not claim, as I do away with them, and brace the legs by means of the single swivelstretcher J. I have constructed tables with two buttons or swivel-pieces, but prefer the single stretchers as cheaper and better.

I claiml. A folding table composed of the top A, legs B, stretchers O D, and stretcher J, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination, the top A, legs B, stretchers C D, brackets .E F, and dowels G H, with the stretcher J, substantially as shown and described. y

JAMES WALTON.

Witnesses: l v

L. E. HAZZARD, A. G. GEAR. 

